Blessings...

I feel so full right now...and am about to burst as I share about the things God has been doing this past week and a half. So often, in my limited faith, I doubt God's plan...I think I have things more figured out than He ever could (what pride!!)...but, then I become aware of what He is doing around me. How he is weaving every conversation, every relationship, every event into his perfect plan for our lives. I hate that, so often, I become too caught up in myself and miss out on how He is at work around me. Thankfully, He has given me the grace to see that just over the past week and a half, we have been blessed with...

A joyful heart...
The past two years have been filled with so much sadness off and on...(but mostly on) :)...surrounding our infertility. After talking to a friend on my way home from work last week,  realized that I finally feel JOY! It has been refreshing to feel hopeful again...to not only know but to BELIEVE that God is working out his plan for us! Infertility is such a struggle...and every month that we did not conceive over these past two years was difficult. But, now I see that God had something different planned for us...and I wait excitedly for that plan to come to fruition!

An Anonymous Gift...
This past Tuesday morning, I found an anonymous letter in our mailbox...a financial gift to help us bring baby Gorman home. Tears are filling my eyes now as this gift reminded  me once again (in the midst of my worries surrounding the financial part of our adoption) that God WILL provide...He is faithful and he uses others to be a part of the work He is doing in our lives. It also makes me think...how does he want to use ME to be a part of what he is doing in someone else's life?

An OVERWHELMING amount of donations...
We were BLOWN AWAY by the amount of donations we received for our yard sale. What a blessing it was that friends and friends of friends would be willing to give us their "junk" in order to help us fulfill what God is calling us to! I have been truly humbled these past couple of weeks by the generosity of others (some of whom I really do not even know)! It took a small army to price everything we were given :)....in fact, we worked for at least eight hours Friday pricing (with the help of Bethany, Katie, Shana, and Billie, and my nieces). But, it was all truly a blessing and I am thankful to each person who generously gave so we can be one step closer to bringing baby Gorman home!

Amazing family and friends...
There were times when we first moved to our current location that I questioned why God would bring us here...but these past few weeks have reminded me of the support God has blessed us with! I am so lucky to have my sister and her amazing family live so close!

...and it was such a blessing to have them here this weekend to help us with the yard sale! My nieces bring so much joy to my life! My sister and brother-in-law recently adopted precious Ellagrace into their family...it has been a blessing to see how my brother-in-law, sister, and nieces have accepted Ellagrace as their own...their lives have been a testimony to me and an encouragement as we go through the adoption process.

(Ellagrace in a traditional Ethiopian dress)

I am also blessed to have such a supportive husband. God has grown us closer to Him and to each other these past couple of years. He is a wonderful friend, great listener, and challenges me to be a better person!

We are thankful to have parents that are supportive of us as we pursue the journey of adoption. We have also been blessed to form some incredible friendships where we live! I am so grateful that Bethany and Katie took time out of their busy lives and spent time away from their family to help us price items Friday and set up every thing very early Saturday morning! I am so thankful for the text messages, Facebook responses, and emails I received from so many others that were thinking and praying for us! I'm so thankful for the support of my Tuesday morning Bible study ladies...who have been such a joy to learn from and grow with over the past few months. God has given us such amazing supports here....and for that I am truly grateful!

Answered prayers above and beyond...
Our two family adoption yard sale was this past Saturday. Two precious friends, Mandy and Cathy Lynn Lanier introduced me to a wonderful woman of God, Lyndsie and her husband Daniel who are also in the process of adopting. Lyndsie and I decided to team up for an adoption yard sale fundraiser. I have been very thankful to have someone close by who is on the same journey!

Warren and I (along with so many others) were praying we would raise $1,000 in the yard sale to put towards our adoption....

Well...God, once again, did more than we could ever imagine! We raised $1293.75 in the yard sale and $359 in the raffle/personal donations!! I am blown away! I will post more pictures from the yard sale later this week! We are exhausted but so thankful for all of God's blessings....


"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20, 21